The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 1:10-13, “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,
11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven– things into which angels long to look.
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Currently, my daily readings are focused on early church history. Multiple thoughts of various aspects of doctrine originated within groups that differed from one another. It was as if doctrinal concepts originated from “here and there,” resulting in the formation of various belief systems. Ultimately, these groups formed what today we would term “religious denominations.”

Those early groups can be excused somewhat in that they lacked the Scriptures as we have them today. Additionally, the political force to accept and practice the beliefs of their political leaders made their situation all the worse.

We have the Scriptures available to us today; therefore, nothing can excuse us from following precisely what the LORD desires. What we possess today (and often take for
granted) is the result of the prophets’ “careful searches and inquiries.” Political leaders often object to the Word of God, in that His Word goes against their desires. It is so today. Five times in the passage above we read “you” and “to you.”

Sincere pastors today make “careful searches” of the teachings of the Scriptures, so that they might not mislead their congregational hearers. They will stand accountable to God
for what they say, and for what they don’t say. At the same time, with the Scriptures in our own language and easily available to us, we too are accountable for our obedience to the Word of God.

Notice that angels “long(ed) to look” into Word! Thus, inasmuch as the LORD has been pleased to give us the Scriptures and qualified men to explain and expound them, we
had best be prepared to obey the Word, holy as it is.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit,
fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at
the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

He has prepared and produced His Word for us. It is now for us to obey it completely.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom